Creating a more just and humane society

Opinion: Eric Holder made U.S. more just, humane

Attorney General Eric Holder will be remembered for his lasting impact in three areas.

First, he will be remembered for how his office pursued some, but not all, of the perpetrators of the financial crisis. On the one hand, he aggressively pursued financial institutions, forcing guilty pleas from Credit Suisse and BNP Paribas and extracting large fines from Bank of America, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. On the other hand, the individuals committing various financial crimes that led to the crisis all got off scot-free. The legacy in this case will be mixed. Further, because the aftermath of the financial crisis is still playing out, it is unclear whether Holder's role will be viewed as positive or negative.

Second, he will be remembered for his role in the dramatic change in our society's view of gay rights. The change is huge and permanent. The attorney general's role in that change, especially in refusing to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, was pivotal. He will be seen as the catalyst for a huge civil rights victory.

Third, although our society has yet to fully realize that we have gone too far in administering draconian sentences for many crimes, especially drug crimes, the time has come for a rethinking of our sentencing practices. Holder has used his office as a pulpit from which he has been preaching the value of moderating our sentencing processes. When we look back we will realize how extreme we had become in this area, and we will see Holder as having played a major role in making our society both more just and more humane.